Centre hands over Darjeeling-Siliguri highway to NHIDCL after Bengal PWD's 'absolute failure'

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The Central Government has transferred the responsibility for the vital National Highway 110 (formerly NH-55), connecting Darjeeling with Siliguri, from the West Bengal Public Works Department (PWD) to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), a central agency specialising in challenging terrain infrastructure.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) formalised the transfer through a notification, invoking powers under the National Highway Act, 1956. The 77km stretch, a lifeline for the region’s commuters, tourists and traders, had long suffered from poor maintenance, frequent landslides and chronic traffic snarls, drawing sharp criticism from local stakeholders.

I am happy to share that the 52.10km stretch of Sevoke-Rangpo section of National Highway 10 (NH-10) has now been handed over to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL).As most of you are aware, I have made repeated representations and pic.twitter.com/Q6endl15V8

Raju Bista (@RajuBistaBJP) November 5, 2024

Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, who had been at the forefront of the campaign for the transfer, welcomed the decision as “historic and welcome,” expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for prioritising the region’s infrastructure needs.

On X, Bista reiterated his longstanding demand: This is a landmark moment, which will ensure that the people from our Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Sikkim region will benefit due to the central agency NHIDCL taking care of this critical NH-10 infrastructure.”

He had earlier written to MoRTH, highlighting the Bengal PWD’s “absolute failure” in maintaining the highway, which had led to “massive harassment to the locals, decrease in tourist inflow, reduction in trade and increase in traffic jams and pollution”.

The transfer is expected to bring about regular maintenance, timely expansion and systematic development of the highway, leveraging NHIDCL’s technical expertise in hilly terrains. Bista also proposed innovative solutions for the highway’s expansion, such as widening certain stretches by levelling alongside the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway tracks, potentially easing the region’s notorious traffic congestion.

This move follows a similar transfer in December 2024, when a 52km stretch of NH-10, connecting Siliguri and Sikkim, was handed over to NHIDCL from Bengal’s PWD. The NHIDCL has since initiated repairs along the Gangtok-Siliguri (NH-10) highway, with scheduled intermittent closures for maintenance at various time slots between May 9 and 11 and between May 13 and 15.

The latest development has been widely welcomed by local leaders and residents, who hope that central oversight will finally address the long-standing issues plaguing the region’s most important road link. With NHIDCL now at the helm, expectations are high for safer, smoother and more reliable travel between Darjeeling and Siliguri.